Flower Power!

We are having such a wonderful summery day today.  Well actually the weather might be that way but in reality I've been busy vacuuming the whole house and helping make trays of cookies.  Funny how I always end up finishing the baking! 

Anyway I thought I'd just pop in and show you my new creation.  Look, it's crochet too!!!  Thank you Maria for your inspiring stripy blanket to get me back into hooking for a while.  Have you met Maria before?  She makes such wonderful things.  Pop on over and visit her if you like, she'll love to have you over for a while.

Pattern from Lucy, Attic 24 of course.  Never thought I could do something this cool!  Loving the summery colours.  It was so easy to make but it's probably a little baggy on the jar.  When I was filling the jar with water, No.2 asked me why I didn't take the cover off first so it didn't get wet.  It's just far too sensible really!  And yes it did get wet.  Who cares in this heat. 

Gosh it's so very hot, about 28 degrees C here now and we're sweating away eating iceblocks and anything cold we can get our hands on.  Hey do you want a sneaky peek at our new bathroom?  I ADORE it!  It's so tranquil and beautiful, as is our bedroom.  I could live in our bathroom it's so pretty.  Loving the little tiles below the mirror.  We still need the fan, lights and towel rail to be installed and then it's all done.  Then there'll be whole room photos.

I made these cushion covers last year and finally added one more colour last night.  I do love them and must get them finished for the winter.  They will add much needed colour to our lounge in the cooler months.

Well that's it for today.  I hope your weekend is going nicely too.  Thanks for stopping by!  Oh, note the bigger photos?  Much prettier.

The End

Isn't it a good day when you finally complete a big project?  Sometimes they can seem never ending.  This one sure did, although it didn't take that long really considering it was my first crochet project.  I'm missing my crochet time in the evenings now.

It's a bit like a good book.  You can't wait to see what happens in the end, but you know when you get there you won't have any book left to enjoy. 

I'm very pleased with how it has turned out.  I still would like to block it (even though I have huge pressure from a couple of opinionated ladies, who shall remain nameless, not to bother),  because I think the edges will sit flatter and the whole thing will just look a little more professional.  I still haven't made the effort to perform this task and since it is the holidays can't really see it happening any time soon.

The red blanket is rather a good find of mine.  I went with my Grandmother to a quilt show at her retirement village two weeks ago.  It was lovely to see so many wonderful quilts.  Anyway some of the ladies were selling goods and I of course had to have this blanket, especially as it was only $10!!  Bargain of the year I'm quite sure.  Thanks for the loan and sorry for emptying your purse  Gran!  It's one big granny square which I rather like and the colours are just perfect for our lounge.

Another finished project is this notice board.  It had been in hiding under the sofa until Daughter No.1 mentioned that I still hadn't finished it.  I had completely forgotten about it, honest.

Well out it came along with a bottle of PVA glue and we just did it.  Simple as that.  Plenty of willing helpers to press out any bubbles along the way.  The glue, which was my main worry, was absolutely fine.

Now all we have to do is decide on where to hang it.  Poor father will have to bang another nail into the wall.  His precious perfect walls that he spent hours making so nice.

And now the girls are making a mess wonderful new project.  No.2 has discovered a love of ironing.  Sick child!  She will be given shirts when she runs out of seams to iron.

They have both been having turns at the sewing machine.  Some seams are a little off the fabric, but mostly I'm quite impressed. 

No.3 had her little friend over for a sleepover last night.  It was the first time for both of them and boy were they giggly!  But so cute and so nicely behaved.  We have No.2's friend over tomorrow night to look forward to.  It's a busy sort of week really but lots of home time.  We'll have to go out a bit next week.  It's a bit boring staying home for too many days in a row. 

Hope you are enjoying the holidays if it's your turn.  Otherwise have a very lovely week.  Right, off for a warm up cuppa tea.  Bye for now xx

I'm Still Here

Hello, hello!  It's so nice to see you all again.  Sorry I've been AWOL this past week.  I've been trying to decide what to do.  I was getting sick of spending too long looking at blogs, blogging, and on the computer.  Sure it's nice but there are too many other things in life that need to come first.  I get really quite angry with our computer at times.  I know it's not his fault but he's such a huge magnetic sometimes.  I'm sure most of you know where I'm coming from. 

Having four children sure takes up plenty of time as well of course.  With four to get out the door by 8.20 it's quite a challenge believe me.  During the day it's just No.4 and me.  I like it a lot.  I want to spend more time enjoying her before she joins her sisters at school.  You loose a bit of them when they start school.  No.3 is doing incredibly well but she comes home so tired and has no words left for us.  Yes better than noisy I'm sure!  So I'm grabbing all the precious moments with them that I can.

So instead of shutting down my blog and moving on, which would have been a little bit rash of me, I've decided to spend less time on here instead.  Perhaps I'll just blog once a week, or whenever my time and thoughts allow.  I don't want to just end it because I've made soooo many lovely friends here.  And it's my place to get creative and see others making creative things.  I think I need this place to be me.  Making things is so very me and blogland is where I get so much inspiration from.

I would never have made my two quilts without lovely bloggers like yourself.  And as for crochet?  Gosh no!  Just look at me now, nearly a professional Granny with one blanket almost finished.  Just the edging to go can you believe it?  I would never in my wildest dreams though I would ever be able to make such a thing. 

I'm very pleased with what I've accomplished this past year. I've learned so many new things too.  And I also hope that I've inspired some of you to make something for your home and family too.  You just can't beat the homeliness that comes from handcrafted goodies. 

I have found that since blogging our home has suffered dreadfully.  While renovating this has been OK, but now that I have two lovely new rooms to take care of, (because small children aren't the best at this job!) I actually want to spend more time getting it in order.  So this week I've done a little sorting and tidying up.  And boy some parts of the house are looking top notch now.

 

Also the weather has put a damper on spending time on the computer.  It's jolly cold in this room I can tell you.  I am sitting here with a cuppa, hot water bottle and blanket on, but my hands are freezing cold. 

So I'm afraid you've got me for a while longer!  I might not comment as often as I used to (although that was never the best) and I won't blog as often, but I'm still here.  Does that sound OK?  Hope I haven't sounded too whingy.  Please forgive me if I have.  Until next time xx

P.S. There have been a few sad emails in my inbox from unhappy apron swappers this week.  Please contact your swap partner if you haven't sent an apron yet.  You agreed to this swap and now you need to make sure that you follow through with it.  It's not fair to accept a lovingly made apron and not return the favour.  Come on ladies!  And please show photos of it when it arrives.  The sender wants to know that you like it.

Flowers Galore

You may remember I bought this fabulous piece of fabric some time ago.  Unfortunately it found itself a nice shelf and refused to budge until last night.  Now it's a pretty cool dress for No.4 and she outside right now with it on, running through puddles and admiring the rainbow in the sky.  I wonder if she'll come in when the rain starts?  She's a bit wicked sometimes!

We can show you the new dress sideways too if you like.  The stripy legs are quite neat with it.  The more patterns the better when you're three.  I'd love a pretty crochet edge on the hem of the dress but I wouldn't have a clue how to do that.  We may have to settle for some cotton lace.  I'll add that to the list.

I couldn't resist adding a doily to one of the flowers!  I really do love them these days.  Isn't it funny how things catch on?  I had never enjoyed doilies before blogging.  Come to think of it there are many things I hadn't even tried before my blogging days.  Yes we may spend too long searching through the many blogs some days, but I know that I have certainly gained many new skills from reading them. 

My little poppet picked out her own buttons.  She has quite an opinion about things these days, but her favourite clothes are those that she has seen being made for her.  You don't get to make special choices when you go out and buy a ready made garment do you?  It's nice to pick out buttons, laces, fabrics and other cute bits and pieces when you are little, and big too.

Over the weekend our house started to become a home once again.  Finally!  I was completely over the mess and having piles of stuff everywhere on Friday.  But now the two little girls are in their new rooms.  And boy do they look fabulous.  Hubby has done himself proud yet again.  The finishing is perfect as usual.  I just hope the little girls are careful for at least a couple of months. 

So far I've managed to get hubby to hang one picture up on the perfect walls.  I'll work on him next week for another wee hole.  After all my little girl and tree wall hangings, garland, raggy heart, and other bits and pieces I've made for their new rooms, need a home too.

Today the littlest poppet and I have sorted out all the buttons into their correct jars, made a dress, rewashed all the soaking washing from the line, done a puzzle, had morning tea and are now about to have lunch.  Then it's back to the Grannies for me.  They are coming along splendidly.  I am doing the last two rounds of the white and am managing to get about six done each day.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now for sure!  I can't believe I am actually going to have a crochet blanket that I've made.  Just incredible.

Anyway I'll catch up with your blogs later on today.  Thanks for going to the trouble of posting about your aprons again.  I've enjoyed seeing a few that slipped me by.  They are all so beautiful and lovingly made. 

Today It Is Officially...

Winter.  Oh dear, never mind.  Just as well we have some pretty colour indoors to warm us up.  Do you like Katie's new scalloped garland?  It's all ready to go up on her pretty blue/green wall next week.  The painting of the two little girls' rooms and the hallway is finally completed!!  The carpets are going to be cleaned by hubby on Saturday, the rest of the doors rehung, ready for the big move in next week.   

Take a looksie outside today.  My poor little Christmas tree is about to float away I'm sure.

All the bark is floating away too.  These photos were taken half an hour ago and it's so much worse now.  I hope I don't have to go out in my bare feet to rescue the garden later.  I've done that before and it's freezing cold water.  There is a big drain just in front of the red pot, it works well doesn't it? 

It sure is an inside day today.  Slippers...

my mother's pumpkin and orange soup, very yummy and scrummy...

and perhaps a little crocheting of Grannies later...

Last week I had Lucy home from school with a tummy bug.  She and I needed some entertaining so we decided on origami crane making.  It turned out to be the best thing because we were both rolling around the floor laughing in the end.  Honestly those instructions are just impossible to work out.  In the end we did get one made correctly...

only to forget the last step each time.  Thankfully my brain kicked into gear by about the fifth one and then we were off.  Aren't they so pretty and colourful?  We would have preferred the pretty floral ones in the book, but perhaps another day.

This new puzzle was also impossible.  We ended up with one piece that didn't fit anywhere no matter how hard we tried.  In the end we both got up to move on with life and found Lucy had been sitting on the correct missing piece all along!  So we have a full puzzle and an extra piece.

Now I have a question for you all.  I'm making a notice board for Molly and I have cut a couple of pieces of fabric to fit over the cork.  I have enough fabric to slip under the frame edges to make it neat and tidy.  What glue would I use to attach it onto the cork?  I don't want to make the fabric all stiff looking but don't think it would work with just the edges glued either.  Any advice?

I have some lovely red ric rac to go across in rows and will decorate some wooden pegs with buttons for her to hang her goodies on.   This photo is just the corner of the whole board.  What do you think of the doily use? 

Well the sun is out and the rain has stopped.  My feet have been saved for now.  Hopefully the school pick up is dry and the day continues to improve.  May the sun shine where you are too!  

Gosh I nearly forgot to say, have you all posted your aprons?  The aprons should all be posted by now unless you have an agreement.  I'm thinking in a week or two we should have an apron day where we all post a photo of our apron.  That way you could pop over to my blog, search through the apron blog list and ooh and aah over them.  What do you think?

Gifts Galore

Just look at this beautiful pin cushion that was sent to me.  This is what I received from the Pin Cushion Swap Kate organised.  My surprise swap partner turned out to be Kawthar who has a delightful blog you really must visit sometime.

Look at the postage writing.  It looks Arabic or similar.  I'm pretty sure it's come all the way from Saudi Arabia.  Golly, no wonder it took so long to reach me!

The edges of the pin cushion are hand croched ricrac and the button is covered in gingham and then a crochet flower.  It's just the sweetest button in the world, I'm quite sure it is.  I was absolutely thrilled when I opened it.  Who wouldn't be?

But that wasn't all!  No, she very generously croched a gift for each of our four girls as well.  Can you imagine how long she must have spent on this little heart?  It's actually two hearts that are stitched together with an opening at the top.  Daughter No.1 is getting this lovely surprise when she arrives home from school.  She'll be over the moon.

And some very fancy stitching here.  No.4 has agreed to have the large flower stitched onto a top for the winter.  I think it will look fabulous.  The star and the beads may end up as a book mark for No.2.  She's a pink girl so will love it.  And the cutest little purse has been claimed by No.3.  Her favourite colours are pink and yellow.  Kawthar thank you very much for all the wonderful presents, we all really appreciate how many hours they must have taken you to make.

It seems it's a week for parcels in our box.  Yes I won two prizes a while ago!  This one is from Patch, a newly opened online shop.  Thank you very much Claire, I just love all the pretty ric racs, especially the soft velvet ones.  I didn't know I was going to receive quite so many bundles!  Oh the things I'll be able to decorate with them.

The second prize was for naming Clare's sewing machine!  Mabel it is.  Not sure where I pulled that one from, but I'm delighted to now have one of her wonderful patterns.  I think a sewing machine apron sounds like a very good idea.  She also very kindly sent me some big white ric rac.  There's a bit of a theme going on here isn't there?  The three parcels all have ric rac in them.  I wonder if they all know just how much I love the stuff?  Anyway thank you very much Clare, it was a very wonderful prize to receive.

Now I'll finish up with a present I've had for quite some time now.  I feel very bad for not showing you earlier but I just kept forgetting to photograph these lovely items.  Dear Lorraine gave these to  me when she was visiting from the UK several weeks ago.  She knew how much I wanted a pair of pinking shears and found some pre-loved ones at a fair.  How kind of her.  The work perfectly too.

And just look at this pretty pincushion and needle book she made for me.  The fabric is so beautiful and it's extremely well made.  What a clever and very generous lady you are Lorraine.  With everything you had to do before you left home you still managed to make gifts for me, thank you very much.  It's was so lovely to meet you and Jus as well. 

Now my darlings, I must now go out into the sunshine and pull weeds and plant new vegetables and flowers.  It's one of those absolutely beautiful Autumn days where you are drawn to the garden.  I'll be sure to take photos.  Until then, happy stitching! 

An Award for Creativity

Oh ladies you are doing me proud!  You really are.  Not only is my swap going well with loads of people joining in the apron fun, but I have just posted my 200th post.  And if that isn't enough, since installing the followers button a couple of weeks ago I have now topped 100 followers!  How jolly exciting.

Now I have been given a Kreativ Blogger Award, by Anjie at Pop Pom Emporium. I have to name seven creative things I have done. I think I will show you seven creative projects I've worked on during the school holidays.  If you would like this award for yourself, please take one with you.  You'll find it in my side bar.

First up we have my 51 finished Grannies... 

A little pile of crochet flowers...

Some new beginnings of Grannies...

Very nicely sorted ribbons, braids and laces...

No.2's tapestry has been turned into a lavender bag...

I helped No.2 make this wonderful pincushion, and then she gifted it to me...

I had fun patternmaking some teddy clothes patterns for the girls to sew clothes...

That's about as good as it gets over the holidays I'm afraid.  Yes I do count putting the ribbons on card as creative.  I do because it took jolly ages to do and my thumb was so rubbed raw from the ribbons passing along it.

My girls are back to school and kindy on Monday.  I'll miss them being around but I guess it would be good to get this house under control again.  Well until they get home at three anyway.  Oh OK, I know I'm kidding myself here!  Our house is never under control.  Right now we have three bedrooms out of order with renovations and are living with stuff all over the place.  Our bed is in the lounge, I have a train set at the end of it, nine doors stacked up against the wall, chests of drawers as you come in the front door, plumbing bits surrounding the dining table, and horrid little piles of stuff in every available bit of space. Still I can cope with this.  I will create instead of clean.  OK no change there really. 

If you would like to join in The Great Apron Swap 2010, please go to the post below.  There you will find all you need to know.  I'd love to have you join!

For now I must go and find No.3 an activity.  Have a great day!

Speaking of Grannies...

Lululiz, eat your heart out!

Just look what a busy bee I've been.  Most evenings you will find me crocheting my little grannies.  I do love it.  Crochet I mean.  Even though I've been only using white wool for the past two weeks or so, I still love it. 

 

Even though I still need to make another, goodness knows how many more. It's OK.  I can do it.  This is my autumn/winter project.  I need the fun to last for quite a while longer. 

I've finished 51 grannies so far.  The girls very helpfully laid them all out this morning for a photo.  We all have our favourite granny.  Well that came out badly didn't it?!!  Sounds like we are favouring one relative over another!

Hey, thanks for all your wonderful happy blog birthday wishes.  It's so much fun having a birthday isn't it?  A celebration idea happened upon me in the shower this morning.  It was somewhere between the shampoo wash and the conditioner I think.  I'll have to spend some time thinking some more and planning before I can tell you about it.  I'm feeling a little bit cheeky too, so you won't get any more info squeezed out of me.

We are having a lovely home day today.  Well except the part when Great Gran takes us out to McDonalds for lunch.  Oh and the part when we all rock up to the paint shop with a long list and high hopes of getting another of those tins of jelly beans!!

Have a wonderful day!  Or a relaxing evening.  Or a great night out if you are that way inclined.  See you again when I've sorted my surprise out.  And thank you so much Stephanie for giving me that first comment on my very first posting.  It's like it was my first comment all over again.